humility

There, I said it... I want to be famous! When I started writing this, several weeks ago, I wrote the title as "I want to be great!" But I knew that wasn't entirely honest. I don't just want to be great; I want to be famous, well-know, respected. This isn't a new ambition. I've dealt … Continue reading I Want to be Famous

For years, I just couldn’t say it. I don’t know why, but I would say anything except those dreaded three words. Three simple words: “I don’t know.” Why are they so difficult to say? It’s because we have to admit a measure of ignorance. It’s humbling. But I want to encourage you to not fear … Continue reading Empowering Reasons to Say IDK

Sometimes, I wonder if we are so conditioned by shows of weakness that we’ve begun to call moderate strength or even mediocrity, “power.” It seems that those exercising true Spirit-enabled power are often culturally interpreted as arrogant or brash. Could it be that a weak church culture is feeding that misconception? Could it be that we are teaching the world that “Christian” = “weak”?

Too many Christians get wrapped up in “things” and lose the joy and peace they ought to have in Christ. They “mind earthly things” and lack that spiritual mind of the dedicated believer. Notice how many times the word “things” is used in this chapter. Here Paul describes the spiritual mind—the mind that thinks God’s thoughts and is directed toward God’s goals.

How different it is for us to exercise the mind of Christ! Walking by sight as we do, we think that to humble ourselves means to lose; yet the Word teaches that the only way up is down. Christ had the submissive mind, and God highly exalted Him. Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus had the submissive mind, and they were honored for their sacrifice and service. The best way to get the victory over people and pride is through the submissive mind: the mind of Christ.

Circumstances may cause us to lose our joy, but people can also bring trials that rob us of joy. How many times do we lose our peace and joy because of what people say or do. The best remedy for these trials is the submissive mind, the humble mind that seeks only to honor Christ. Pride is the cause of much unrest and contention (read James 4), but humility brings peace and joy. We could try to learn this the hard way by experience, or we could choose to learn the easy way’ - from the example of others.